Authoritarians Don't Attract Independents

[MSimon]

Randy December 18th, 2013 (#):

The reason more and more voters identify as independents is that they are tiring of the authoritarian models of governance that have defined political discourse and policy over the last century or so. They don’t identify with the economic authoritarians on the Left nor do they identify with the moral authoritarians on the Right. The party that best meets their concerns will get their votes.

In order to enact policy, you have to win elections. In order to win elections, you have to appeal to more voters than your opponent. In today’s political landscape, that means you have to appeal to the increasing number of independent/moderate voters in order to win and win consistently. These independents are fiscally moderate and socially liberal. The immoderation of the socon element in the Republican party prevents political moderates from consistently voting for Republican candidates. The Captain Ahab-like moral obsessions of the socons are unattractive to these voters and are therefore easy targets for the Left and their media allies.

Fiscal moderation and responsibility along with policies that enable economic growth are winning issues with broad appeal. Obsessing about restricting the private voluntary actions of others doesn’t have the same broad appeal.

http://classicalvalues.com/2013/12/it-i ... ment-97151

[palladin9479]

Pretty much on point. I'm part of that moderate / conservative fiscal crowd that also happens to be more "liberal" on social issues. I really don't much care for someone telling me what my morals should be. Social issues should be left up to the individual states to decide, hell most issues should be up to the individual states to decide. The bigger states have been dictating policy for this country for far too long.